Robert C. McLeod

As I said before, we anticipate being completed during the 2016 building season and they have had some challenges on the terrain, but I think that the contractors are more than equipped to deal with it. If there are any foreseen circumstances or if there is some delay of any kind, then I will be sure to let the Members of this Assembly know.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Heritage Fund Act was enacted on August 1, 2012, and the legislation establishes a trust fund as a long-term investment in which surplus funds typically received from resource royalties may be transferred at the discretion of a Legislative Assembly. Once transferred, these funds become part of the principal of the Heritage Fund. Under the Act, for the first 20 years once first contribution is made, both the principal and the interest, or the income generated by the fund, are retained in the fund. After 20 years have passed, transfers out of the fund for use...

I would be pleased to provide committee with a briefing, or I can compile some information as far as a briefing note goes, and submit that to committee and then they can determine whether they want to have a briefing or not.

We anticipate being completed this summer. The original project was supposed to be lights on during 2016, and that is still the plan. Of the approximate 1,200-kilometre volume, 733 kilometres have been completed up to the end of the 2015 building season, so we still have plenty of time to have the remaining line laid before June 2016.

The total savings over the two years that we've enacted the freeze it will be approximately $3.8 million. That would include the excluded employees, senior managers, and the deputy ministers.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if the Member is referring to those that are in the public service with Union of Northern Workers, there’s a process that we're going through right through negotiations, and whatever agreement they come up with we will adhere to that.

I take a different view of the progress of the liabilities and financial assurance division. In less than two years, within the department, we have successfully established a new unit that was not contemplated at the time of devolution. This unit has so far managed a significant body of work from Queen's University and commenced work on the policy foundation that will guide them through future operations; supported the GNWT in decision-making on an innovation form of $253-million security for Ekati; completed an initial scoping study of Cantung issues that prepared the GNWT on managing issues...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Lands is less than two years old and the financial liabilities and financial assurance division was added after the creation of the Department of Lands. Turnover and staff departures and difficulty recruiting these highly-specialized positions are just some of the challenges that the organization has faced since start-up. Despite that, we have moved quickly and the director's position now has been filled on an acting basis. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

No, I haven't had a conversation with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment yet. But, as I said before, once I get a better understanding of some of the skill sets that might be needed and some of the training courses that we may be able to offer, I will have a conversation with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to see if there's an opportunity for us to consider running some courses that might be beneficial to a number of our students. In my conversations with the folks from DLR in Germany, I had talked to them about the fact that if they can send folks over to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is work is progressing along very well and my understanding is that it’s supposed to be lights-on during 2016. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.